Tag: Cleveland Cavaliers

Garrett Temple feels Nets’ culture is carrying the team

The Nets are on their longest winning streak of 2019-20. Garrett Temple explains why Brooklyn is thriving despite Kyrie Irving’s absence.

With the 103-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Brooklyn Nets have now won four games in a row. They’re in the midst of their longest winning streak of the season, despite the fact they’re without both Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert.

Now, some of the teams Brooklyn has faced during the stretch aren’t exactly among the elite in the NBA, but the Nets can’t simply show up and expect to win either.

More importantly, this stretch has presented multiple players with the chance to take on greater responsibilities. Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen have seized the opportunity on the offensive end, but Brooklyn’s lifeblood has been their defense since Irving went down.

Chemistry, connectedness, however you want to put it, the Nets have found a way to work as one unit. Garrett Temple chose the term “culture” following Monday’s win.

We [are] building that culture. Defensively, we [are] just playing at a high level right now. It helps. Nic stepped up tonight. Had a big block or two, some good deflections. Everybody that has been able to step up with the injuries [has] done their part. Musa had a big game tonight off the bench for us. Guys are just playing. We’re getting into a rhythm on the defensive end, which allows us to get easy baskets offensively.

Nets ability to stay connected has carried them through Kyrie Irving’s absence

The fact Brooklyn’s two best players throughout this stretch without Kyrie Irving have been Nets for years doesn’t surprise Keny Atkinson.

Jarrett Allen and Spencer Dinwiddie have been two of Brooklyn’s best players throughout 2019-20, and they’ve both taken major steps forward in the time Kyrie Irving has been sidelined due to a right shoulder impingement.

That’s not to say Irving’s presence on the floor doesn’t allow them to flourish — they both had their share of strong showings alongside Irving. Their play is a sign of their maturation as players, especially the more mild-mannered Allen.

With those two being the ones leading the charge over the last five games, the rest of the roster has had an easier time rallying around the pair because they’re part of the core that’s called Brooklyn home for some time. Kenny Atkinson stressed the same point to reporters following the 108-106 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

It’s just how connected these guys are and it does help that it’s guys that have been here for a long time. I think that continuity helps. [Garrett Temple] is kinda the new guy in that group. [Taurean Prince], too. But we got guys that have been here that understand what we’re doing, that helps a lot.

Atkinson stressed Brooklyn’s connectedness a second time in his postgame press conference. He explained it’s why he felt confident about the Nets’ chances going into halftime.

You feel like they were locked into this game. They were ready to go. I thought, physically, in the first half, we did not look good, but I felt like we got stronger as the game went on. But I think it’s their mental approach. They’re a connected group right now. They’re feeling good about themselves. It carried over [and] got us a win tonight.

With their improved connectedness comes improved defense, which plays in Brooklyn’s favor with their two best scorers (Irving and Caris LeVert) out. Now the Nets just need to find a way to maintain the chemistry they’re developing when their injured teammates return.

Jarrett Allen, Spencer Dinwiddie lead Nets past Cavaliers

Jarrett Allen did a bit of everything against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Spencer Dinwiddie put a punctuation mark on the game.

Tristan Thompson didn’t stand a chance against Jarrett Allen on Monday. The Nets big man had one of the best regular season performances of his career, finishing with 22 points and 21 rebounds.

Allen went 9-for-10 from the floor, 4-for-5 from the free-throw line and grabbed a career-high nine offensive rebounds.

Allen’s performance in the 108-106 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers was the second 20-20 game of his career. His last one came against the Houston Rockets in January. Allen now leads the Nets with seven double-doubles this season.

Spencer Dinwiddie extended his streak of 20-point games to six in the win. He scored 23 points on 10-for-24 shooting (1-for-5 from three). Dinwiddie also had a season-high nine assists

Dinwiddie and Allen each blocked important shooting opportunities in Cleveland’s final offensive possession, which gave Dinwiddie the chance to take what went on to be the game-winning shot.

Dinwiddie and Nic Claxton led the Nets with three blocks apiece. Allen had two.

Joe Harris (19 points) and Taurean Prince (18) were the other two Nets who finished in double figures. Prince led the Nets from behind the arc, finishing 4-for-6 from three.

LeBron James loves how Richard Jefferson is trolling the Knicks

LeBron James got a kick out of Richard Jefferson’s jokes that irked the New York Knicks from Sunday night.

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are sitting atop the NBA standings with a 14-2 record but no matter where he is in the league, LeBron is always paying attention to the league at large and the stories that come with it as an admitted hoops junkie. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that he’s taken to the latest bizarre story involving the New York Knicks and his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Richard Jefferson.

For those who are unaware about the story, let’s give you a quick recap. Jefferson, who is now an analyst for Brooklyn Nets games on the YES Network, joked that things had gotten so bad for the New York Knicks that he’d turned them down when they offered him a contract in his final year.

The Knicks then oddly made the social media highlight an even bigger story by issuing a clarification via the team’s official public relations twitter account.

Jefferson then of course leaned into the joke, being the expert troll that he can be, which got the attention of his former teammate LeBron.

 

DeAndre Jordan ruled out against Cavaliers

The Brooklyn Nets will be without their backup big man, DeAndre Jordan, against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

The Brooklyn Nets will be without another one of their 2019 free-agent signees on Monday. DeAndre Jordan has been ruled out due to left ankle soreness.

Jordan injured the same ankle against the New Orleans Pelicans back on November 4. He missed the first game of Brooklyn’s five-game road trip as a result. Monday’s game against the Cavaliers will be the first game Jordan has been sidelined since the matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jordan’s absence in Portland led to an opportunity for Nic Claxton off of Brooklyn’s bench. The Nets rookie may be presented with a similar opportunity against the Cavs on Monday.

The Nets also recalled Rodions Kurucs from their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, prior to Monday’s game in Cleveland. Jordan’s injury may also give Kurucs a chance to play, or the Nets’ decision to recall him could be nothing more than a precautionary measure with the team already short at the forward position.

LeBron on AD’s return to NOLA: ‘We have to make him feel as comfortable as possible’

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James reflected on his own experiences playing against his former team for the first time.

For the second year in a row, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers once again have an important road trip before Thanksgiving that features a homecoming game for their star player. But this time it’s not LeBron James making a trip to Cleveland but rather Anthony Davis making his return to New Orleans after asking for a trade earlier this calendar year.

The way things ended for Davis and the Pelicans wasn’t pretty. With the trade request happening midseason, it created a long tension that enveloped both the Pelicans and the Lakers, as players on the Lakers feared they would be traded while the Pelicans had lost their best player. But it’s still hard to imagine it being anything like LeBron’s first game back in Cleveland.

Even though the vitriol and animosity likely won’t be on the same level of LeBron’s 2010 return to Cleveland, LeBron knows what’s important for a team to do when a player has an emotional game on the schedule, according to USA TODAY’s Mark Medina.

James talked about “eerie” feelings and knowing how bizarre it can feel to go back to a place where you spent your formative years. But having someone who can truly relate to Davis on that level may make it a little bit easier for him to adjust to playing his first game at the Smoothie King center as a visitor.

 

Brooklyn Nets at Cleveland Cavaliers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Brooklyn Nets at Cleveland Cavaliers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Brooklyn Nets (8-8) and Cleveland Cavaliers (5-11) lock horns at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Monday at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Nets-Cavaliers odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Nets at Cavaliers: Key injuries

Nets: PG Kyrie Irving (shoulder) will be sidelined until early December, and SG Caris LeVert (thumb) is out at least through the holidays.

Cavaliers: PF Kevin Love (back) is a question mark for Monday’s battle.

Nets at Cavaliers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 7:35 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Cavaliers 106, Nets 101

Moneyline (ML)

The CAVALIERS (-115) aren’t a huge risk as long as Love is on the floor. He has been in and out of the lineup due to a back ailment. The good news for the Cavs is the Nets (-106) won’t have the services of their old friend Irving.

New to sports betting? Every $1 wagered on a Cleveland win profits $0.87 if the Cavs prevail. (Ex: Bet $10 to win $8.70, $20 to win $17.40, $5.35 to win $10).

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Take the CAVALIERS (-1.5, –106) on their home floor. Even without Love, they have a more than decent chance of winning, although his inclusion gives them much better odds to win.

The Nets (+1.5, -115) are just too shorthanded right now, and they’re a very subpar basketball team with their two big offseason signings each in street clothes.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 217.5 (-110) is a great play, as the trends point to the Under for both sides. In fact, this is the best wager for this entire game. The Under has cashed in four in a row for Brooklyn, and seven of the past 10 in the second end of a back-to-back situation.

The Under is 5-2 in the past seven against the Eastern Conference for Cleveland, while going 4-0 in their past four after a cover and 7-1 in their past eight following a straight-up win.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Los Angeles Lakers off to best start ever for a LeBron James team

Los Angeles Lakers off to best start ever for a LeBron James team at 14-2 through the first 16 games of the season.

After earning a 109-108 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers are now 14-2 through their first 16 games of the season. That mark represents the best start ever for a LeBron James team to begin the season. LeBron had previously earned a 13-3 mark twice with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008-09 as well as 2016-17, and once with the Miami Heat during the 2013-14 campaign. But James has never opened the season as dominantly as these Lakers have throughout his 17-year NBA career.

While competing against a Grizzlies team led by rookie-of-the-year candidate Ja Morant who was three years old when LeBron made his professional debut, King James poured in 30 points while recording a team-best plus/minus of +7 during the one-point victory for L.A. He also collected six rebounds and dished out four assists while superstar teammate Anthony Davis scored 22 to go along with five blocks. The Lakers will now meet a struggling San Antonio Spurs team on the road on Monday with the goal of extending their seven-game winning streak.

The Lakers being off to the best start of LeBron’s career from a record standpoint is a testament to how dominant James continues to be even at the age of 35. This isn’t a byproduct of LeBron being on the most talented roster of his career–that already happened for James during his time with the Miami Heat. While most of his contemporaries are either retired for fighting to keep their careers alive, LeBron is collecting more rebounds per night than his career average while also dishing out 3.5 assists more than he has throughout his career. He’s doing this while scoring 25.2 points per contest and representing the biggest factor for his team’s success so far.

LeBron has always prided himself on playing the right way and this Lakers team is a reflection of that. Los Angeles currently ranks in the top-7 in defensive rating as well as assist-to-turnover ratio. They rank No. 2 in field goal percentage as a team as well, and lead the league in blocked shots. If they’re able to maintain those efforts while continuing to improve from the 3-point line, the wins will keep piling up in record numbers for LeBron and company as we move throughout the season.

The 8 greatest assist games of LeBron James’ NBA career

As LeBron James leads the NBA in assists this season, we looked back at the eight greatest assist games of his NBA career so far.

LeBron James dished out 14 assists while scoring 23 points during the Los Angeles Lakers 130-127 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. He has now totaled at least 14 dimes in an NBA game 38 times for his career according to Basketball Reference.

While helping his Lakers to a league-best 13-2 record, LeBron is leading the NBA in assists with 11.3 per contest. That mark is over two dimes more than his previous career high of 9.1 assists during his final season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. So as King James continues to get his John Stockton on, we looked back at the eight greatest assist games of his NBA career.

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